The historic "Roses Rivalry" reignites at Elland Road to kick off the first Sunday of 2026, as Leeds United host Manchester United on 4th January (12:30 GMT).
Matches between these two are rarely quiet affairs, and with both sides currently plagued by defensive injuries and international absences, the stage is set for a high-scoring encounter. We have teamed up with Betfair to offer an incredible price boost for the ball to hit the back of the net at least once.
Betfair New Year Special
50/1 A GOAL TO BE SCORED: LEEDS VS MAN UTD
Claim 50/1 Offer HereNew customers only. Max £1 bet on Over 0.5 Goals. Promo code ZFBECP. T&Cs apply. 18+.
Leeds United: Elland Road Expectancy
Daniel Farke’s Leeds side has been one of the most entertaining, if occasionally erratic, teams of the season. Heading into this clash, the Whites are sweating on the fitness of Joe Rodon (ankle), while Daniel James remains sidelined. However, the attacking threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the creative spark of Wilfried Gnonto have ensured Leeds have scored in 90% of their home games this term.
The tactical setup at Elland Road often invites chaos, and with Leeds failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five matches, they will likely look to outscore their rivals rather than shut them out. Given the ferocity of the home crowd, expect an early blitz from the hosts.
Manchester United: Amorim’s Defensive Puzzle
Ruben Amorim faces a significant selection headache as he takes his side across the Pennines. The Red Devils are without several key defensive figures, including Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui (AFCON). Further up the pitch, the absence of Bryan Mbeumo on international duty puts the goalscoring burden on Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
Despite the injuries, United have looked more clinical under Amorim's 3-4-3 system. They have averaged nearly two goals per game in their recent away trips, but the makeshift nature of their backline—likely featuring Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven—suggests that Leeds will find plenty of joy in the final third.
Why "Over 0.5 Goals" is the New Year Banker
- H2H Goal Frenzy: Manchester United haven't failed to score against Leeds in their last 10 meetings, while Leeds have found the net in four of their last five against the Red Devils.
- Defensive Void: Both teams are missing their first-choice centre-backs (Rodon for Leeds, De Ligt for Man Utd). In high-pressure derbies, these gaps usually lead to early goals.
- The "Cunha" Factor: With Bruno Fernandes a doubt, Matheus Cunha has stepped up as the creative hub, currently leading the league in chances created from open play in December.
Betfair New Year Special
50/1 A GOAL TO BE SCORED: LEEDS VS MAN UTD
Claim 50/1 Offer HereNew customers only. Max £1 bet on Over 0.5 Goals. Promo code ZFBECP. T&Cs apply. 18+.
Terms and Conditions
Who can take part?
- New customers only. Available to residents of the UK and Ireland
How & when can I qualify?
- Open a new account using promo code ZFBECP
- Deposit a minimum of £10 by Pay by Bank, Cards or Apple Pay.
- Place a max £1 bet on “Over 0.5 Goals” in the Over/Under Goals market in Leeds v Manchester United on Sunday 4th January.
- Exchange, Cashed Out, Partially Cashed Out and Oddsboost bets will not count towards the promotion. If you place a qualifying bet and subsequently use Cash Out on the bet, you will no longer be eligible for the promotion.
What can I win?
- If your bet is successful, you will be paid in cash based on the normal price on site and will have the extra amount, bringing the bet up to the cumulative 50/1 payout, credited in free bet builder bets.
When will I get my prize?
- You will receive your Free bet builder bet after your qualifying bet settles.
- All Free bet builder bets are valid for 30 days.
What else do I need to know?
- Best odds guaranteed does not apply to bets placed with a free bet, or partial free bet.
- Stakes are not returned with winnings if your free bet wins. Your winnings will be credited to your main wallet.
- If we find that you have taken part in this promotion using a duplicate account or that you have used more than one account to participate, we reserve the right to withhold your free bets and any winnings earned on the duplicate account.
- Deposits made with e-wallets including PayPal, Skrill, Paysafe and Neteller will not count towards this promotion.
- The offer excludes the following bet types: Canadian, Goliath, Heinz, Lucky 15, Lucky 31, Lucky 63, Patent, Super Heinz, Trixie & Yankee.
Other essential stuff:
- Betfair reserves the right in its discretion to exclude and/or limit the availability of the offer to certain customers.
- Betfair reserves the right to change the terms, or the availability, of this offer at any time. Any such change won’t materially impact customers already taking part in the promotion.
- Betfair reserves the right, at its discretion, to exclude certain customers from this promotion. If you have been sent an email from Betfair excluding you from promotions, you will not qualify for this promotion.
- Customers found to be signing up for multiple accounts to take part in the promotion will have their accounts closed, and any winnings generated from bonus funds will not be paid out.
- If any term of the promotion is breached, or if there is evidence that a customer is using the promotion to guarantee profits regardless of the outcome (whether individually or as part of a group), we reserve the right to reclaim the bonus element, and any pending winnings from play generated using the bonus funds.
- We reserve the right to withdraw the availability of this offer to any player or group of players, or to modify the terms and conditions of this promotion at any time. This will not impact any players who have already started wagering under a promotion - such players will be given the opportunity to win a reasonable equivalent in the event the prize is withdrawn or changed."
- The full terms and conditions of Betfair.com also apply to this offer.
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